Alaska Airlines Will Fly From Everett

Snohomish County travelers will have new options for flights when Alaska Airlines begins flights from Paine Field in 2018. There may be nine departures a day. The routes will operate with a mixture of Boeing 737 and Embraer 175 jets.

The move will alleviate commuting concerns for North Sound residents, some of whom can spend 80 minutes or more at peak traffic hours traveling to Sea-Tac Airport.

“As our region continues to grow at a record pace and Sea-Tac Airport nears capacity, the time is right to bring air service to our valued guests living in the North Sound,” said Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden, in a news release. “Today’s news means less time stuck in traffic on Interstate 5 and more time enjoying your vacation or making the most of your business trip.”

Courtesy Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines also has a terminal at Bellingham International Airport, in addition to a large presence at Sea-Tac.

Construction will begin on a new terminal in June. An announcement of routes, schedules, and ticket information is expected in early 2018. Construction of the new terminal is led by Propeller Airports and Snohomish County.

“This new service is great news for Snohomish County,” said Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, in a news release. “Businesses will have easier access to major markets and leisure travelers can skip the commute down south, saving time and fuel. For decades, Alaska Airlines has been a responsible neighbor in our region, and we welcome them even closer to home at Paine Field.”

Currently, the airport does not host commercial flights. The Alaska move will change that.

“Alaska understands the local market, so having our Seattle-based airline be the first to provide scheduled passenger service from Everett just confirms the value commercial flights will bring to the local economy,” Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson said in a release. “Alaska is an industry leader in service and reliability, and our citizens and businesses will benefit from having such a convenient travel option right here in Everett.”

Paine Field has deep roots in aviation — it’s home to the Boeing Everett Factory.